Lot 181. An underglaze-red 'phoenix' meiping, Qing dynasty, 18th century. Height 32.8 cm, 12⅞ in. Estimate: 25,000 - 35,000 GBP. Lot sold: 32,760 GBP. Courtesy Sotheby's.

elegantly potted with curved sides gently rising to generous rounded shoulders surmounted by a short waisted neck and lipped rim, boldly painted around the body in vibrant red tones with three phoenixes in different postures flying amongst flowering branches of hibiscus, all below a band of pendant ruyi-heads around the shoulder and pendant plantain leaves around the foot, the shoulder similarly decorated with a continuous flowering hibiscus scroll.